Buck Catalano by Dan Hall

Bob McCreadie

Bob made his racing debut in 1971 in a small-block modified on the short tracks of northern New York and across the Canadian border. He began running his iconic number 9 in 1972. In the late seventies and early eighties he stepped into big-block modified competition, but not before racking up a shocking 66 small block victories in the 1979-1980 seasons.

In a big-block modified racing career that spanned the better part of three decades, Bob McCreadie amassed a near-mythical record of success. With 307 victories in the Super DIRT series Big-Block Modified division alone, it’s easy to imaging how Bob has earned three Super DIRT Series Championships and two Mr. DIRT Modified Championships. In addition to his championship titles, Bob McCreadie has held track championship honors throughout the years at famous dirt tracks like Canadaigua, Weedsport, Rolling Wheels and Brewerton.

McCreadie’s storied career has gotten him inducted into the Lowe’s Motor Speedway Walk of Fame, the Dirt Motorsports Northeast Hall of Fame, and the Eastern Motorsport Press Association Hall of Fame.

Bob’s illustrious career roared through the decades despite several racing injuries including five separate instances in which the driver broke his back. But his time as a race driver came to an end in 2006 as a result of a parking lot accident where his motorcycle was struck by a motorist. He sustained several broken bones, effectively making a continued career in auto racing impossible. His son Tim McCreadie now carries the family name to further racing success throughout the country.

A shot of one of Bob’s earlier number 9 dirt modifies (Found on Pinterest)